Optical fiber display device

ABSTRACT

Bundles of optical fibers, in which the output ends of the optical fibers are arranged to form line segments, are grouped together so that the line segments, in combination, are capable of representing alpha-numeric symbols to be displayed. By selectively illuminating light sources adjacent the input end of the optical fiber bundles the display device can be used to display a variety of symbols.



1. An improved optical display device comprising: a plurality of light sources; a plurality of optical fiber bundles, each of said bundles including a plurality of individual optical fibers, said fibers each having an input end positioned adjacent a light source for receiving light from the adjacent light source at all times that said light source is illuminated, and an output end for emitting light, with the output ends of the fibers in each bundle arranged to form a continuous line segment, each of said bundles further including a light guide plate holding together the output ends of the fibers within the fiber bundle and evenly distributing light from the output ends of said fibers within the bundle, said light guide plate having the shape of the line segment formed by the ends of the fibers said light guide plate holds, and having openings in only one side of said light guide plate with the ends of said fibers inserted into said openings and terminating in contact with said light guide plate; and the light guide plates being arranged to form in combination a plurality of possible displays with the actual display at any given time being determined by the illumination of the input ends of selected fiber bundles, said optical display device including seven fiber bundles each terminating in a rectilinear light guide plate and further including a pair of spaced vertically aligned rectangular block members, said light guide plates positioned to extend parallel to the top, bottom and sidewall surfaces of said rectangular block members and fastened thereto, with the front face of each of said light guide plates terminating in the plane of the front face of said rectangular block members and with a single one of said light guide plates occupying the space between said block members. 